View all

Our area is experiencing the beginning of a long-term demographic shift to a more aged society. By 2025, there will be approximately 182,000 people over the age of 60 and nearly 13,000 people over the age of 85 living in Multnomah County. More than one in ten of individuals over 60 will live in poverty and 3 in 10 will experience a disability (Population Research Center, Portland State University, 2008). On the flip side of this challenge is a unique opportunity. Nationwide, over $7 trillion in economic activity is generated by people 50+ every year and this is expected to nearly double by 2032. [AARP]

Multnomah County joined the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities in 2014 and thus committed to developing an Action Plan to meet the changing needs of our community and take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity.

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), an “age friendly” city:

● has structures and services that are accessible and inclusive of older people with varying needs and capacities,